Smith due in federal court Sept. 8; Fenwick trial continued to December

Tuesday, September 2, 2014
T.J. Smith

A Putnam County deputy accused of using excessive force in four different arrests will appear in federal court on Monday, Sept. 8.

The trial Deputy T.J. Smith, 37, of Greencastle, is set for 9 a.m. at the U.S. District Courthouse in Terre Haute with Judge William T. Lawrence presiding.

The U.S. District Attorney's office alleges that on four separate occasions, Smith committed federal civil rights violations during arrests that took place between November 2011 and December 2013. The deputy is accused of using excessive force in each case.

Smith was arrested by FBI agents on March 10, and entered a not guilty plea in federal court that afternoon.

Following his arrest, Smith was placed on administrative leave by the sheriff's department. He has continued to serve on the Greencastle City Council.

Meanwhile, a former reserve deputy will go to court in December on related charges.

Andrew Fenwick, 24, of Greencastle, was arrested on April 15 on three counts of providing false testimony before a federal grand jury.

Prosecutors say that Fenwick made false statements during the grand jury investigation of Smith's alleged misdeeds.

Fenwick is due in U.S. District Court in Terre Haute for a 9 a.m. trial on Dec. 1 before Judge Jane Magnus Stinson.

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